03/17/2011        2011 ITTF-Latin America Cup

The top four seeds in the Women’s Singles event at the ITTF/Latin American Cup in Rio de Janeiro, all emerged successful at the end of the first stage matches on Thursday 17th March 2011.

The Dominican Republic’s Wu Xue, Brazil’s Ligia Silva, Colombia’s Paula Medina and Mexico’s Yadira Silva secured the top place in their respective groups.

Meanwhile, runners up spots were gained by Brazil’s Jessica Yamada and Caroline Kumahara alongside Chile’s Berta Rodriguez and Guatemala’s Andrea Estrada.

Players finishing in first and second place in each group advance to the quarter-finals.

Minor Surprise
It was very much progress as planned with the only surprise of note being the defeat of Brazil’s Mariany Nonaka by Andrea Estrada (9-11, 11-7, 11-13, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5).

Different Story
However, in the first stage of the Men’s Singles event it was a very different story, in addition to the defeat suffered by Argentina’s Liu Song, the no.2 seed; there was also defeat for Brazil’s Gustavo Tsuboi, the no.3 seed.

He was beaten by Paraguay’s Marcelo Aguirre in five games (7-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8)

Good Focus
“I had good focus from start to finish”, said Marcelo Aguirre. “It was a close match, Gustavo’s a good player; I think in the match service and receive was absolutely crucial, after the first game I returned service better and then I became more confident.”

Marcelo Aguirre finished in first place in the group; both Marcelo Aguirre and Gustavo Tsuboi beat El Salvador’s Josue Donado.

Success for Brazil
Disappointment for Brazil but there was success; Hugo Hoyama and Cazuo Matsumoto with Eric Mancini gaining second place behind the Dominican Republic’s Lin Ju, the no.1 seed.

Out of Form Mexican
The runners up spot recorded by Eric Mancini was a surprise; he beat Mexico’s Marcos Madrid in four straight games (11-9, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9). It was a day Marcos Madrid will want to forget.

In August Marcos Madrid beat Lin Ju in the final of the Men’s Singles event at the Central American and Caribbean Games; at the ITTF/Latin American Cup, revenge was extracted.

Lin Ju beat the Mexican star in four straight games (11-5, 11-3, 11-6, 11-1); Lin Ju finished the group in first place and alongside Eric Mancini progresses to the main draw. Surprisingly Matcos Madrid fell at the first hurdle.

Quarter-Final Places
Places in the quarter-finals of the Men’s Singles event for Lin Ju, Cazuo Matsumoto, Marcelo Aguirre, Hugo Hoyama, Eric Mancini, Liu Song, Gustavo Tsuboi and to complete the line up, Argentina’s Gaston Alto.

He beat the Dominican Republic’s Juan Vila in five games (11-9, 11-9, 11-6, 10-12, 13-15) to secure second place in the group behind Hugo Hoyama.

Eric Mancini caused a notable upset by beating Marcos Madrid to secure a quarter-final place